For the past couple of years hubby has given me the most unique day-by-day calendar for Christmas. Upon opening the gift, it looks like a simple block of paper. But hidden inside is a creative, intricate paper sculpture.
Here you can see the very first calendar hubby gave me for Christmas of 2023. Just a simple block of paper.
I had never seen anything like this before. Hubby told me there was a paper sculpture hidden inside.
I tried to peek and see what it might be … but I couldn’t really tell.
I had to pull a page off each day, revealing bit-by-bit over time the mystery hidden inside.
It was great fun! I had so much fun seeing the mystery being revealed day by day!
At the end of 2024, here is the beautiful paper sculpture which had been hidden all along in what originally appeared to be just a simple block of paper.
Not only that, there was a light inside the paper sculpture! How fantastic!
For Christmas of 2024, hubby gave me another day-by-day calendar. I was delighted to have another mystery hidden in a new year’s calendar? I couldn’t wait to pull off a page each day and see the mystery revealed.
The year of 2025, just like the previous year of 2024, had its fair share of highs and lows.
There were quite a few dark pages which I pulled off my day-by-day calendar throughout 2025 … and, correspondingly, there were quite a few really hard days in 2025.
By the same token, there were many beautiful brightly colored pages which I pulled off my day-by-day calendar in 2025 … and likewise, there were also many wonderful days throughout the year of 2025 of special time spent together with those whom I love.
At the end of 2025, here is the beautiful mystery which had been hidden all along … hidden in highs and in the lows … hidden in the dark pages and in the brightly-colored pages. Isn’t it beautiful!
I was particularly captivated by the lighted-up river! It made me think of the River of Life which will be in Heaven …
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] down the middle of the great street of the city. On either side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
“No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb [Jesus Christ] will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.” – Revelation 22:1-5
Seeing the river (which made me think of the River of Life), and the beautiful tree (which made me think of the Tree of Life) … this was the mystery which had been hidden in my day-by-day calendar of 2025 … it made me think how that the beautiful gift of salvation for all humanity has been a great mystery which has been hidden throughout time.
Just like my day-by-day calendar for 2025 started out looking like a plain ordinary block of paper, so also when Jesus Christ left Heaven and came down to earth (to rescue humanity from the curse of sin and redeem all humanity back to God), he appeared to be just a plain ordinary man.
But a great mystery was hidden! A great mystery which nobody could see!
Jesus lived normal ordinary days on this earth … just like my day-by-day calendar had normal ordinary pages pulled off one day after the next.
There were brightly colored “pages” in the time Jesus spent on this earth. Jesus had many wonderful times spent together with those whom he loved.
And likewise, there were dark “pages” during the time Jesus spent on this earth. Jesus was familiar with suffering and grief, just like us.
And in the end, when Jesus was crucified on the cross, to pay the penalty for the sin of all humanity, no one had any idea that the grand reveal was at hand!
Jesus died. Jesus was placed in a tomb. The “calendar” was done … it was over. Or so everyone thought.
But three days later, God (through the power of the Holy Spirit) brought Jesus back to life again! Jesus came back to life, triumphantly conquering sin, Satan, death, and hell.
The grand reveal showed everyone that Heaven is now open and available to everyone who believes and trust in Jesus Christ!
The River of Life … and the Tree of Life are there! Sparkling in all their beauty! The great mystery which was kept hidden throughout all the many years of history has at last been revealed! Jesus paid the price! Jesus made a way! Heaven is now open to humanity! Thank you Jesus!
“The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” – Colossians 1:26
“God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Christ Jesus, and through Jesus to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now God has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” – Colossians 1:19-22
The great mystery has been revealed!
Jesus has made peace between us and God. Heaven is open for us!
